Between 1992 and 2002 the United Kingdom was the third largest source country for short-term visitor arrivals to Australia. Both visitors from New Zealand and Japan exceeded arrivals from the United Kingdom during this period. The United Kingdom averaged 11% of all visitor arrivals while Japan averaged 18% and New Zealand averaged 16% between 1992 and 2002. In 2002 there were 642,700 arrivals from the United Kingdom or 13% of all arrivals.

SHORT-TERM VISITOR ARRIVALS, Selected Countries, Proportion

REASON FOR JOURNEY

Most short-term visitor arrivals from the United Kingdom in 2002 stated their main reason for journey was either to holiday (48%) or to visit friends and relatives (31%) with business (6%) being the third most popular reason. The proportion of all visitors travelling to Australia in this period was similar to the United Kingdom for the purpose of holiday (50%), lower than the United Kingdom for the reason of visiting friends and relatives (18%) and higher than the United Kingdom for business (9%).

AGE AND SEX

In 2002 the median age of visitors to Australia from the United Kingdom was 39 years, just higher than the median age of all visitors to Australia (38 years). Marginally more males than females visited Australia from both the United Kingdom and all visitors with both groups recording 52% of visitors being male. For those travelling for business the median age for both groups was 41 years while the proportion who were male was 84% for the United Kingdom and 82% for all visitors.

INTENDED DURATION OF STAY

Visitors from the United Kingdom intended to stay twice as long as visitors from all countries. In 2002 visitors from the United Kingdom had an intended median duration of stay of 21 days compared with 11 days for all visitors. The major differences in the intended median duration of stay of visitors from the United Kingdom and all visitors were for the purposes of holidaying (21 days for United Kingdom visitors compared with 10 days for all visitors) and employment (92 days and 61 days respectively).

MAIN STATE OR TERRITORY OF INTENDED STAY

In 2002 the main destinations in Australia for visitors from the United Kingdom and all visitors were similar with the exception of Queensland and Western Australia. New South Wales received the highest proportion of visitors (44% for the United Kingdom and 40% for all visitors). While Queensland received the next highest proportion of visitors from the United Kingdom (17%) the proportion was lower than for all visitors to Queensland (28%).

Western Australia and Victoria each received 16% of visitors from the United Kingdom. While the proportion for Victoria was similar to that recorded for all visitors (17%) it was higher than the proportion for all visitors to Western Australia (10%).

SHORT-TERM VISITOR ARRIVALS - Selected Characteristics, 2002

UNITED KINGDOM

ALL COUNTRIES

Visiting

Visiting

friends

friends

and

and

Unit

Holiday

relatives

Business

Employment

Total

Holiday

relatives

Business

Employment

Total

Number

'000

308.8

200.9

36.8

20.4

642.7

2,401.5

847.6

442.5

81.9

4,841.2

Proportion

%

48.1

31.3

5.7

3.2

100.0

49.6

17.5

9.1

1.7

100.0

Median age

Years

34.6

46.7

40.6

28.3

38.6

36.1

44.1

41.3

29.5

37.6

Proportion Male

%

52.0

46.0

84.0

59.1

52.2

47.4

45.0

81.9

58.8

51.8

Median duration of stay

Days

21.2

22.7

10.5

91.5

21.4

9.6

17.7

7.4

61.1

10.5

Main state or territory of intended stay-

New South Wales

%

48.4

35.9

46.7

46.5

43.9

38.3

40.2

46.7

45.0

40.1

Victoria

%

13.4

18.9

25.3

19.0

16.4

13.2

21.9

25.3

19.3

16.9

Queensland

%

18.2

16.6

10.0

13.8

17.0

35.0

19.3

13.9

16.8

28.0

South Australia

%

2.3

5.7

3.8

3.4

3.7

1.5

3.8

2.8

3.6

2.3

Western Australia

%

15.0

20.5

11.3

13.7

16.4

9.4

12.5

7.3

10.5

9.7

Tasmania

%

0.6

1.0

0.7

0.8

0.8

0.7

0.7

0.6

1.0

0.7

Northern Territory

%

1.7

0.4

0.8

1.4

1.2

1.4

0.5

1.7

2.4

1.3

Australian Capital Territory

%

0.4

0.9

1.4

1.2

0.8

0.4

1.0

1.8

1.3

1.0

SEASONALITY OF ARRIVALS

For both visitors from the United Kingdom and all visitors December was the most popular month to visit Australia. In December 2002, 16% of visitors from the United Kingdom and 11% of all visitors arrived in Australia. The least popular months for United Kingdom visitors were May and June (each 4%). These months were also the least popular months for travel to Australia for all visitors but the proportions were higher (each 7%). While the climatic conditions influence travel, especially for holiday and visiting friends and relatives, both business and employment opportunities also influence when people choose to visit Australia.

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